HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Combining persistence with patience, Wheaton Warrenville South tallied late to eke out a 2-1 win over scrappy West Chicago in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 3A Hoffman Estates Regional on Wednesday.

The Tigers (14-4-2), ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will face no. 5 St. Charles East (20-5-0) for the regional crown at 7 p.m. Friday. The Fighting Saints reached the final with a 7-2 win over the host Hawks in semifinal play a day earlier.

Wheaton Warrenville South jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead against the Wildcats, who then held off the ever-attacking Tigers before tying the match on a free kick in the 52nd minute. Led by ultra-dangerous senior forwards J.J. Aalbue (Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match) and Paige Miller, as well as ace senior midfielders Allie Anderson and Audrey Siebert, the veteran Tigers (12 seniors) eventually found the back of the net again in the late going for the winning margin.

But it sure wasn't easy, mostly due to an outstanding performance by West Chicago senior goalkeeper Haley Rich. Looking to snap the 1-1 deadlock, Wheaton Warrenville South adeptly worked the ball into prime scoring areas, and then unleashed high-percentage shots that tested Rich time and time again.

After Wildcats star senior midfielder Barbie Castellanos tied the game on a 20-yard free kick that hooked into the top left corner from a sharp angle on the right side in the 52nd minute, Wheaton Warrenville South senior defender Molly Fank bent a 35-yard drive that Rich stopped.

Two minutes later, Rich dove to snuff a low, 15-yard strike by Aalbue. Rich also had the answer for a left-footed one-timer by Tigers senior mid Ellery Fahey in the 60th minute, and again on a similar try in-close by senior mid Evelyn Demsher three minutes later.

Nine seconds after Rich stopped a 20 -ard missile by Aalbue, and only a single minute after Aalbue rattled the crossbar with a solid blast following a deep throw-in, the Tigers finally solved Rich for a second time when Siebert fired a 30-yard shot inside the left post to give her team a 2-1 lead with 10:21 remaining in regulation.

"We had a lot of momentum," said Aalbue, who assisted on Wheaton Warrenville South's first goal in the 5th minute via a perfectly placed corner kick that was headed in by senior defender Maria Dohse. "We kept (the Wildcats) in their own half, and we created a lot. We were definitely frustrated when they tied it. But we said, 'It's go time. We can't let this happen.' You have to keep pushing, even if it's not working out all the time."

Added Siebert: "(West Chicago) came at us hard. But after that (tying goal), we knew our season was on the line. We had to keep working and find another one. Creating opportunities, eventually we'll find one ... eventually get one to go in."

Sensing that West Chicago wasn't going to mirror his team's run-and-gun approach, Tigers head coach Guy Callipari said it was important for his troops to remain calm while pursuing the go-ahead goal.

"Give credit to West Chicago for trying to maintain a little slower tempo," Callipari said. "That played to their hand, so we had to be a little more patient and more disciplined defensively as well. Any dead ball (the Wildcats) will try to take advantage -- and they did."

Callipari continued: "Then, the game's in the balance at 1-1, and we need to get the game back. And that comes with speed and thought -- be more intellectual and not just athletic. If you do that, it's a matter of time to get one past their goalie. But give credit to their keeper, too. She was stellar."

West Chicago's Rich also made a number of saves to keep her team within a goal in the first half. She made a strong stop to spoil a short try by Miller in the 19th minute and also corralled a rising rocket by Miller with 23:40 left before the break.

Miller was foiled again by Rich on a hard, 25-yard strike in the 26th minute, and once more on a diving save after the speedy Tigers forward cut through two defenders in the 28th minute and fired from 10 yards.

"There was a lot of pressure," said Rich, whose team finished the 2019 campaign at 10-9-4. "It was rough, but I knew what (the Tigers) had, and I was ready for it."

Hard-working West Chicago midfielder Evelyn Hernandez, one of only three seniors on this year's squad, said, "We gave it our all. At 1-1, I felt like we were gonna make it. I feel we could have won if we pushed a little more."

Wildcats skipper J. Cesar Gomez simply said his young team may have suffered from a case of postseason jitters prior to taking the field against the senior-laden Tigers.

"There's a respect for the opponent, but we were too nervous," Gomez said. "We're a lot better team than this. Nerves just got the best of it. But I'm proud of this group. We fought hard. Our goalkeeper did an awesome job.

"Losing to Wheaton Warrenville South, that's an excellent squad. It's a good team we lost to, not an average team."

St. Charles East, the Tigers' foe in the regional title tilt, is no 'average team' either.

"It feels great to win this game (over West Chicago)," Siebert said. "Now we want to keep moving forward and see how far we can take this."

Aalbue agreed, adding, "It's exciting to win, but we're looking ahead. We have to take it one game at a time and just focus on getting better."

Callipari said, "It's a tough regional to get through, and this is only one step. From here on out, we have to play at a different level, and I think we'll do that.

"Having nine seniors on the field helps. There lies the composure and confidence in each other, and the understanding of what it takes."